Beer Consumption Units

     Many people head to their local pub after a hard day at the office to either unwind or to gather with friends.  They perhaps will also order up their favorite beer dujour to accompany them while they make particularly witty comments to their fellow imbibers. No doubt, most will take careful consideration of all menu options and daily food specials before ordering food.  The amount of food each person orders is a matter of preference and can be fairly easily judged for caloric content, but the quantity of beer ingested is of equal importance. It is becoming more common for the pub's daily beer list to include not only the style of beer but the %ABV (percent alcohol by volume).  This information can be helpful but how does one know when one has had enough to drink? The answer is with what I call "Beer Consumption Units".
   
           Beer Consumption Units (BCU's) = Ounces Consumed/12  x  % Alcohol by volume

For example:

     Bill goes to OBON and orders an Avery Maharja with his Po-Boy Sandwich.  He finishes his beer and decides on a Troegs Nugget Nectar.  How many BCU's has Bill consumed?  Using the formula:

                     16 ounces/12 x 10.5%ABV = 14 BCU's Maharaja
                     16 ounces/12 x 7.5%ABV =  10 BCU's Nugget Nectar

                     14 + 10 = 24.0 BCU's total

To put this into perspective:

     If Bill had decided to instead drink five bottles of Budweiser, he would have ingested 25 BCU's...... (12 x 5)/12 x 5% = 25 BCU's.  About the SAME as the TWO beers that Bill actually consumed!

     With the increase in popularity of craft beers, I believe it is crucial to gather as much information as possible to ensure an enjoyable time without going overboard.  Determine what BCU's works best for you because it is important to know when you've had enough.